Dorcas Tinamayi Bennett, Untitled. 2020. 500mm x 500mm. Acrylic on cardboard. Warakurna Artists. (#75-20)

Dorcas Bennett is the daughter of Nyurupayia Nampitjinpa (Mrs Bennett) a senior artist for Papunya Tula Artists. Dorcas was born at Wurturu rockhole near Kaltukatjarra (Docker River). After her birth her mother and father walked with her to Warburton Mission where she was given her English name by the missionary Will Wade. Her parents returned, walking with Dorcas to the Warakurna - Tjukurla area. Soon after her family came into contact with Bob McAuley and travelled with him in the reknowned yellow Native Patrol Officer’s truck to the Amata settlement. From here Dorcas’ family walked to Areyonga where Dorcas began to attend school. After some time her family walked back to Amata and then returned to the mission in Warburton where they were reunited with many family members. Dorcas completed her schooling at the Docker River settlement. The Bennett family along with the Porter, Yates, Reid, Shepherd, Golding, Cooke, Mitchell, Butler, Burke, Newberry, Giles, Richards, Bates, Robinson, Prior and Ward families returned to the Warakurna homeland when it was established in the mid 1970s. Dorcas was married and continues to live in Warakurna with her extended family. Dorcas currently serves as an executive member of Warakurna Artists. She has been painting with Warakurna Artists since 2006. Her involvement with Tjanpi Desert Weavers has yielded her recognition for her grass and fibre sculptures. Dorcas is the current Chairperson for Warakurna Artists.

Since 2014, artists have been experimenting with ideas and designs for its annual streetwear range. This design from 2018 illustrates the karlaya (emu) as one of many native wildlife species in existence on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

The Ngurra Streetwear Project was initiated in 2014 in response to artists and directors request to design fashion within the community. Working with graphic designer, Jack Searls, each year we host a week-long intensive design workshop to create aesthetic elements that are new and original. Participants use paint, textas and photography to create a host of imagery from around the community, which are then workshopped to create the best images for screen printing as well as creating a design direction for the overall project.

The workshops include photography, collage and digital manipulation using design software. Participants then made the final designs print ready and worked out costing, sizes and market development.